Mr. Leslie "Les" Rupert Haywood

A husband, a brother, a father and father-in-law, a grandfather, a great grandfather and an uncle and a friend - a man of significant personal and professional achievement - how can one begin to put together the life and accomplishments of such a man? Well, these are my thoughts and you will each have many of your own. I am honoured to pay tribute to this great man.

Leslie Rupert Haywood began his life journey on March 18,1919, born of Arthur and Evelyn in the Saskatoon hospital. His early years were spent in Lashburn, Saskatchewan growing up with his sister Marjorie. He spent years in the same class as Joyce McNaughton, whom he later married on June 23, 1943. Les came home from military duty in Philadelphia for their wedding and shortly after left for overseas service assigned to the Royal Navy as a radar training officer. The record of many love letters sent in early months of their marriage is testimony to the love that they shared. Indeed, Les agonized over missing their first anniversary. They shared almost 60 wonderful and fulfilling years together.

Upon returning from the war, Les and Joyce began their family which grew to include three daughters, Linda, Carol and Lois - who were each special to their Dad, as only daughters can be. He was proud of his three girls, keeping their 'capped' portraits on display to the very end.

After graduating with a Master's degree from the University of Saskatchewan, Les moved his small family to Deep River in 1946 and began his career as an Engineering Physicist at Atomic Energy Canada Limited in Chalk River. In the early years, Les' career took him to many Candian cities including Ottawa, Toronto, Peterborough and Victoria. For a time he worked in Peterborough with Canadian General Electric assisting in the development of their Atomic Power Department.

With each move he established his reputation for solid leadership, creativity, expertise and adaptability. The moves were not always easy on his '4 girls' and each of you have memories of challenging transitions in new communities, but with Joyce's nurturing and Les' dedication to home and family, all managed to deal with unsettling change.

During his time as Vice President of AECL, he was instrumental in the planning and development of the Candu reactor around the world, including NRX-1947, Cirus-1960, Douglas Point-1967, Pickering-1971, Taiwan-1973, Rio Tercero-1979, BruceB-1980, to name only a few. His employees remember and respect him for his dedication, high standards and fair management style. His expertise is still referred to in professional papers produced at AECL and elsewhere. A quick search on Google will produce several pages of references to such papers. For over 3 decades of Canadian Nuclear Physical Engineering, Les made a significant and important contribution to the research and development of nuclear energy.

Les took a leadership role in the community. He was a charter member of the Deep River Community Association, president and manager of the Deep River Lawn Bowling Club, a member of the Board of Directors for the Deep River Hospital, a leader in the Deep River wood working club and so much more.

Upon retirement from AECL Les was not satisfied to sit down. He bought the gas station in Chalk River and added a laundromat and an engineering consulting office under the name "5215 Inc." As a family we speculated much about the mysterious meaning of that name. It would be years later that Les revealed that the numbers simply represented his commitment to play at such work for 5 to 15 years.

Les loved his garden. Imagine the personal thrill that I felt when I joined this family and discovered that my father-in-law was an avid and knowledgeable horticulturalist. In fact the girls may recall Les' exhibits in the Deep River Horticultural Society's flower shows and his annual displays of sweet peas and roses. I think the house on River Road was the first one in Deep River with in-ground irrigation.

No challenge was too small. Remember the beauty and detail of the ceiling in the basement family room on River Road in Deep River, the cat house in the garage to keep Joyce's cats warm, a house in Pembroke torn apart and rebuilt, an addition to the farm house in Chelmsford, a tiny closet in Peterborough turned into a woodworking shop....and the list goes on.

Les was so dedicated to his family. Nothing was too good for his girls. Imagine Les living in a household with four women. There are lots of great stories to recall, not the least of which is an innovative hairdryer design, the purpose of which was to ease the tension around daily hair routines. Les would become known as a great innovator of useful and purposeful gadgets.

He was generous with his time and resources and he was fair to one and all. He held his sons-in-law in high esteem. We were the sons that he never had. He took a genuine interest in our careers and successes. From our perspective, his interest, advice and good spirit will always be cherished. He admired each of his grandchildren, watching with interest as each pursued their career and he revelled in the arrival of his 3 great grand-children.

Les seemed to be good at whatever he undertook. His woodworking was exquisite and precise. His craftsmanship in Bunka, pottery, jewelry making, poetry, photography and cartoons gained him an admired reputation among the residents of Sherbrooke Heights and Muskoka Traditions. To top it off, he made an annual donation to the Canadian Red Cross of the proceeds from the sales of his handiwork. His love of flowers and plants resulted in many cuttings being shared and bouquets on tables at home and in his retirement residences. He became the much sought after Mr. Fix-it at Sherbrooke Heights. I really believe that the ladies there searched out projects just so they could spend time with Les. From bridge to berry picking, from international consulting to coin machines in "The Laundry Room", from building a deck to holding his newborn great grandchildren, from genealogy to lawn bowling and from carpentry to physics, mathematics or finance, Les excelled at it all. His 'Mass Man" in only one of the many examples.

He took great joy in sharing little 'funnies' that he observed among those around him. I particularly remember him sending word that he was in charge of parking at Sherbrooke Heights and then attached a picture of the lineup of walkers parked in a row while their owners dined in the dining room. His regular and unpredictable phone calls were usually brief and to the point - "I don't have a lot to report.....", but those calls often included a chuckle or two.

Leslie Haywood lived a life of honesty and integrity. He made a contribution to mankind across Canada and around the world unmatched by most. He was loved and respected by all of his family. He leaves in each of us a sense of value and high standard. We will remember him for his wit, compassion, dedication and excellence.

Les commented many times that he only wanted to be around as long as he was productive. He filled these last few years doing whatever he could do to make a contribution wherever he went. To within months of his recent decline, he continued doing his crafts, communicating via email, propagating plants and doing research on the computer. He was a take charge kind of a guy right to the end, giving instructions on his health care during his final hours.

On February 14, Valentine's Day, we know that his life partner, Joyce, was waiting with open arms so they could be together again. I can hear her now - "Oh, for pity's sake, Les! What took you so long?"

Together again, may they rest in peace.

---------------------

"It's Your World Now"

A perfect day, the sun is sinkin' low.

As evening falls, the gentle breezes blow.

The time we shared went by so fast.

Just like a dream, we knew it couldn't last.

But I'd do it all again

If I could, somehow.

But I must be leavin' soon,

It's your world now.

It's your world now,

My race is run.

I'm movin' on

Like the setting sun.

No sad goodbyes

No tears allowed.

You'll be alright

It's your world now.

Even when we are apart

You'll always be in my heart.

When dark clouds appear in the sky

Remember true love never dies.

But first a kiss, one glass of wine,

Just one more dance while there's still time.

My one last wish: someday you'll see

How hard I tried and how much you meant to me.

It's your world now.

Use well the time.

Be part of something good.

Leave something good behind.

The curtain falls,

I take my bow,

That's how it's meant to be,

It's your world now,

It's your world now,

It's your world now.

"The Eagles"

* * * * * * * * * *

Leslie "Les" Rupert Haywood

Peacefully, on Sunday, February 14, 2010, at South Muskoka Memorial Hospital, in his 91st year in the loving company of his three daughters, Linda McLaren of Pembroke, Carol Powell of Huntsville and Lois Haywood of Chelmsford. His sister Marjorie Cooper of Oshawa, his grandchildren, Sherilyn, Eric, Jennifer, Ryan, Meredith and Sylvia and his great grandchildren, Aowyn, Lukas and Sylvan will miss him. Les was a pioneer in the development of nuclear power generation having been employed in the CGE Civilian Atomic Power Department (Peterborough) from its inception to 1962 and, as Vice-President of Atomic Energy of Canada, in charge of the Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories for some years. Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Les has travelled the world and lived a full and generous life. His professional contributions and his woodworking and craft hobbies will be remembered by many. Interment, arranged by COMSTOCK FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTRE, 356 Rubidge Street, Peterborough, will be in Peterborough at Little Lake Cemetery alongside his beloved late wife Joyce Vivian Haywood. If so desired, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Five Counties Children’s Foundation, Peterborough, Ontario. Online condolences may be made at www.comstockfuneralhome.com.